Building information modelling to support maintenance management of healthcare built assets
ISSN: 0263-2772
Article publication date: 13 February 2019
Issue publication date: 10 April 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate how digital capabilities associated with building information modelling (BIM) can integrate a wide range of information to improve built asset management (BAM) decision-making during the in-use phase of hospital buildings.
Design/methodology/approach
A comprehensive document analysis and a participatory case study was undertaken with a regional NHS hospital to review the type of information that can be used to better inform BAM decision-making to develop a conceptual framework to improve information use during the health-care BAM process, test how the conceptual framework can be applied within a BAM division of a health-care organisation and develop a cloud-based BIM application.
Findings
BIM has the potential to facilitate better informed BAM decision-making by integrating a wide range of information related to the physical condition of built assets, resources available for BAM and the built asset’s contribution to health-care provision within an organisation. However, interdepartmental information sharing requires a significant level of time and cost investment and changes to information gathering and storing practices within the whole organisation.
Originality/value
This research demonstrated that the implementation of BIM during the in-use phase of hospital buildings is different to that in the design and construction phases. At the in-use phase, BIM needs to integrate and communicate information within and between the estates, facilities division and other departments of the organisation. This poses a significant change management task for the organisation’s information management systems. Thus, a strategically driven top-down organisational approach is needed to implement BIM for the in-use phase of hospital buildings.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The work was funded by Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Further details of the research could be found at www.rics.org/uk/news-insight/research/research-reports/building-information-modelling-to-support-healthcare-built-asset-management/. The authors also wish to acknowledge the Princess Alexandra hospital who participated in the case study.
Citation
Wanigarathna, N., Jones, K., Bell, A. and Kapogiannis, G. (2019), "Building information modelling to support maintenance management of healthcare built assets", Facilities, Vol. 37 No. 7/8, pp. 415-434. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-01-2018-0012
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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